Culture shock?


        As a multi-racial country living harmoniously among each other, Malaysia sure knows how to prioritize its Muslim religion to protect themselves well. The article http://www.kwongwah.com.my/news/2011/08/17/109.html talks about how the Home minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein had rebuke The Star newspaper over their spread on the different places of food that the public can go during the puasa month. The Star had recommended a restaurant that serves the best pork ribs in town which does not comply with the Muslim faith as according to Fonte & Horton-Deutsch (2005) Muslims aren't allowed to drink alcoholic beverage and eat pork as it is deemed as non-halal. Thus, The Star will publicly apologize for its mistake. What interest me is that, does it mean that just because its the puasa month that the other races be neglected?

        Even so Malaysia's a Muslim country but it is also a democratic state whereby the Constitution of Malaysia states that Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation. So, why must The Star be reprimanded for only posting one restaurant that serves pork? According to Rostbøll (2011), the freedom of expression is understood as freedom to express oneself within certain restrictions that is seen necessary. I do believe that The Star was trying to cater to everyone's needs as Muslims are not the only ones who reads the daily paper. However, what I do agree about is that perhaps the title of the spread should have change from 'Ramadhan Delights' to its original name 'Dining-out'. It would seem more appropriate. Nevertheless, it is a mistake that The Star had to be held for because of its neglect on small details but it was definitely overly taken a back by the Government. It was a story that should not have blown up to the scale that it was.

        In a nut shell, tolerance is key in maintaining harmony within a country. The Star admits that it is their fault for committing a mistake but the Government could have lessen the critiques that The Star editors had to take.


References
Fonte, J, Horton-Deutsch, S 2005, 'Treating postpartum depression in immigrant muslim women', Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 39 - 44, viewed 2 June 2012, <http://jap.sagepub.com.ezlibproxy.unisa.edu.au/content/11/1/39.full.pdf+html>

Constitution of Malaysia (Cmwth)

Rostbøll, C.F 2011, 'Freedom of expression, deliberation, autonomy and respect', European Journal of Political Theory, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 5 - 21, viewed 2 June 2012, <http://ept.sagepub.com.ezlibproxy.unisa.edu.au/content/10/1/5.full.pdf+html>